DOCILITY.

He made a blushing cital of himself,
And chid his truant youth with such a grace,
As if he master'd there a double spirit,

Of teaching, and of learning, instantly.

DOCILITY,

SHAKSPEARE.

LITY, or a willingness to be led by those who are older and wiser than themselves, is a quality in the young, very favourable to their advancement in virtue; nor is there a greater proof of superior sense, than a ready yielding of the inclinations to the voice of Reason. A prompt obedience implies a degree of Self-command, and is therefore peculiarly graceful in young princes. Nor is any one fit to command, who has not first learned to obey.

LOUIS-PHILIPPE, KING OF THE FRENCH.

upon

E read in the Memoirs of Mad. de Genlis: "When first I entered upon the education of the princes, I found them very ignorant, and the eldest of them, the Duke de Valois, then eight years old, extremely wanting in application. I began by reading history with them: M. the Duke de Valois, stretched, gaped, and I was greatly surprised to see him throw himself back a sofa, and put his feet up upon a table that was before him. That we might at once understand each other, I put him immediately into penance: he did not resent it at all. He had by nature a degree of good sense, that struck me from the first days of our acquaintance: he loved rational conversation, as other children love frivolous tales: as soon as good reasons were clearly presented to him, he listened with interest: he became warmly attached to me, because he always found me consistent and reasonable. I had to cure him of many ugly expressions, and foolish habits. He was afraid of dogs, and his former governor had had the absurd attention, when they walked in the Bois de Boulogne, to send on two footmen, to drive away all the dogs that might be in their route. I found one single conversation sufficient to convince the young prince of the folly and weakness of this prejudice: he listened to me atten

tively, kissed me, and begged me to give him a dog, which I did: he conquered his dislike at once, and from that day has never shown any aversion to dogs."

THE DAUPHIN, SON OF LOUIS THE
SIXTEENTH.

PON the first breaking out of the French Revolu

UPON

tion, Marie Antoinette impressed upon the little Dauphin, the necessity of treating with affability the officers of the National Guard, and all the Parisians who might approach him. The child took great pains to please all such persons, and when he had had occasion to reply obligingly to the Mayor, or to the members of a Commune, he would go and whisper to the Queen, "Was that well?”

MAN

YOUTH OF ALCIBIADES.

ANY persons of rank made their court to Alcibiades, the Athenian, charmed and attracted by his birth, riches, and beauty of person. Socrates was the only one, whose regards were fixed upon the mind, and who bore witness to the youth's virtue and ingenuousness and fearing lest the pride of riches and high rank, and the crowd of flatterers,

G

should corrupt him, he used his best endeavours to prevent it, and took care that so hopeful a plant should not lose its fruit, and perish in the very flower. From his childhood, Alcibiades was surrounded with pleasures, and with a multitude of admirers, who were determined to say nothing but what they thought would please him, and who wished to keep him from all admonition and reproof: yet by his native penetration he distinguished the value of Socrates, and attached himself to him: he perceived that he studied to correct the errors of his heart, and to cure him of his empty and foolish arrogance, and he learned to despise himself, and to admire his friend, adoring his wisdom, and revering his virtue. It surprised all the world to see him constantly sup with Socrates, take with him his exercises, and lodge in the same tent with him; and though Socrates had many rivals, yet he kept possession of the heart of Alcibiades, by the excellence of his genius, and the pathetic turn of his conversation, which often drew tears from his young companion. And though sometimes he gave Socrates the slip, and was drawn away by flatterers, yet the philosopher took care to hunt out his fugitive, and brought him away from the haunts of idleness and dissipation.

ELF-command is one of the most important habits

SELF

to be formed in every human being: it is essential to all genuine virtue, and real happiness; but more especially should those learn to restrain themselves, who hereafter shall be subject to little restraint from others.